Elderberries for Flu Treatment...

[stilltryinat50]

Just read an article in Womens World Magazine about an Israeli study that promoted elderberries as a Type A and Type B flu treatment. Also claimed they have been effective against Bird Flu.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Wonder what the dosage might be or in what form? Dried, juiced, etc?

[Deberosa]

Yes, they are a great tonic. I made an elderberry honey out of mine and put it in tea to sweeten it. It does help keep the nasties away - at least I am convinced of it!

[stilltryinat50]

Deberosa, would you share your recipe? And also, how much and how often? :)

[Shamrock1121]

Wyldwood Cellars in Mulvane, KS produce a product that is found in our local health food store. They sell an awful lot of it!

"A study done in Israel on the anti-viral activity of elderberry extract showed that in vitro elderberry extract inhibited the replication of a number of strains of influenza A and B in cell cultures." (Note: "in vitro" is in a test tube.)

-Karen

[Deberosa]

I got the recipe from Growing 101 Herbs that Heal by Tami Hartung.

Honeys are real easy - heat a quart of honey in a saucepan, add 1/2 cup ( I think I went with one cup - I am horrible with recipes!) and heat through. Put in a glass jar - like a canning jar. They say it keeps for 18 months in the open - we kept ours in the fridge.

We just used it as sweetener for tea on a regular basis - no specific amount.

I did more research and seems the most common way is to dry them and use them in teas. Sort of the same idea I guess.

Hope that helps!

[stilltryinat50]

Thanks, Deb, i will get that book and also try the honey.

[Deberosa]

Thanks, Deb, i will get that book and also try the honey.
That book is great because it has complete instructions on how to make all of the medicinal concoctions from tinctures to balms. Then it talks about what kinds of herbs are best used in each recipe. It didn't mention elderberries in the honey recipe - I got that from another source, but the instructions from this source. It's a great book!

[bookwormom]

I read an article about the selfsame thing, however, it claimed that the blossoms were used. (study done in Israel).
My grandmother used both, the berries and the tea when someone got sick. The tea is very good with some honey and lemon.

[stilltryinat50]

Bookwormom,

Do you have the instructions for that? I didn't read the actual article, just the magazine's report on the results.

Thanks

[TessaBlue]

I make a tincture that works quite well. My children and grandchildren call it the "Witches Brew" because it tastes horrible! However, when they get sick, they don't complain about taking it because they know they'll feel better!

I use five different herbs: Elderberry (the berries, not the flowers), Echinacea, Cat's Claw, Olive Leaf and Oat Straw. I grind the elderberry and cat's claw in a coffee grinder. I macerate them all in separate mason jars (put the herb in the jar, and cover with 100 proof vodka, shake vigorously twice per day for 2 weeks). Then I strain it and keep the liquid. I combine two parts elderberry, two parts echinacea, to one part each of the cat's claw, olive leaf and oat straw.

As soon as I start feeling like I'm getting a cold or the flu, I take one tablespoon of my "witches brew" three times per day. (Of course, I wouldn't give my grandchildren that much!)

And I call myself in the morning. ;D

[MotherCharlotte]

What an interesting recipe Tessa! I wonder which of those herbs makes it taste bad. I haven't tried the others, but I know that echinacea tastes awful--I tried drinking the tea before and I just couldn't choke it down.

[rivahmom]

I have elderberry wine, do you think that may keep some of the antiviral properties of the berries.

Also, thanks for the recipe Tessa. I may try to make your witches brew. Is it bitter and if so, do you think adding some licorice would help it?

[TessaBlue]

What an interesting recipe Tessa! I wonder which of those herbs makes it taste bad. I haven't tried the others, but I know that echinacea tastes awful--I tried drinking the tea before and I just couldn't choke it down.

That's why I make tinctures, so I only have to swallow one tablespoon! I don't like teas, even herbal teas - it seems like a lot to have to drink when you don't enjoy the flavor!

[TessaBlue]

I have elderberry wine, do you think that may keep some of the antiviral properties of the berries.

Also, thanks for the recipe Tessa. *I may try to make your witches brew. *Is it bitter and if so, do you think adding some licorice would help it? *

I DO think that elderberry wine would keep the antiviral properties of the berries. Do you make it yourself? If so, I'd love the recipe!

As for the witches brew being bitter, I'd say it's just the nastiest stuff I've ever tasted - not sure if it's BITTER exactly. As for licorice, I don't know - it might help the flavor, but I take medication for hypertension and licorice is NOT a good thing to use if you have high blood pressure.

If y'all try my recipe for witches brew, lemme know if your face screws up when you down the stuff. Mine sure does!

;D

[rivahmom]

Tessa,

Fill a large bucket with berries and mush 'em up. Add a Cinnamon stick and some lemon peel and a 5 lbs bag of sugar. Let it work a month or two, strain it and place in a container that allows gas to escape. It will work some more then you strain it again, let it sit awhile and siphon it off.
Sorry I don't have an exact recipe. I make fruit wines like my grandmother which turn out to be more like a thin syrup but they are good and sweet.

[TessaBlue]

Thank you for the recipe! I'm definitely going to try it.

[MHinFox]

a recipe from Chreokee medicinal uses says this formula.
1 teaspoon of elderberries to one cup/glass of tea cure for common colds and helps flu

[MHinFox]

I use stevia leaves to sweeten some. or honey.